In This Issue Since 1909 COVERIndian STORY Air Force Formally Inducts The Akash Missile 4 (Initially published as FAUJI AKHBAR) Vol. 62 No 14 25 Ashadha - 9 Shravana, 1937 (Saka) 16-31 July 2015 The journal of India’s Armed Forces published every fortnight in thirteen languages including Hindi & English on behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is not necessarily an organ for the expression of the Government’s defence policy. The published items represent the views of respective writers and correspondents. Editor-in-Chief CNS Reviews the Passage from Karwar Hasibur Rahman 8 12 Editor Editor (Features) Passing out Parade to Salalah Dr Abrar Rahmani Ehsan Khusro Coordination Business Manager Sekhar Babu Madduri Dharam Pal Goswami Our Correspondents DELHI: Dhananjay Mohanty; Capt DK Sharma; Manoj Tuli; Nampibou Marinmai; Wg Cdr Rochelle D’Silva; Col Rohan Anand; Wg Cdr SS Birdi, Ved Pal; ALLAHABAD: Gp Capt BB Pande; BENGALURU: Dr MS Patil; CHANDIGARH: Parvesh Sharma; CHENNAI: T Shanmugam; GANDHINAGAR: Wg Cdr Abhishek Matiman; GUWAHATI: Lt Col Suneet Newton; IMPHAL: Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma; JALANDHAR: Naresh Vijay Vig; JAMMU: Lt Col Manish Mehta; JODHPUR: Lt Col Manish Ojha; KOCHI: Cdr Sridhar E Warrier ; KOHIMA: Lt Col E Musavi; KOLKATA: 6 Defence Minister Inaugurates… Gp Capt TK Singha; LUCKNOW: Ms Gargi Malik Sinha; MUMBAI: Cdr Rahul 10 IAF in Rescue and Relief… Defence Pension Sinha; Narendra Vispute; NAGPUR: Wg Cdr Samir S Gangakhedkar; PALAM: Gp Adalat Held 16 Capt SK Mehta; PUNE: Mahesh Iyengar; SECUNDERABAD: MA Khan Shakeel; 11 To Build and Promote Military… SHILLONG: Gp Capt Amit Mahajan; SRINAGAR: Col NN Joshi; TEZPUR: Lt Col 14 Release of IMA Journal and… Sombith Ghosh; THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suresh Shreedharan; UDHAMPUR: 15 Naushera Ka Sher and his… Col SD Goswami; VISAKHAPATNAM: Cdr CG Raju. 20 Valedictory Function 24 Aeronautical Engineers Inducted Published by: Sitanshu Kar 25 Air Force Medical Assistants Director General (Media & Communication) 26 Five Naval Officers Awarded… Directorate of Public Relations, South Block, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-110011 Regulars 27 Armed Forces Panorama Follow us on: www.facebook.com/DefenceMinIndia https://twitter.com/spokespersonMoD 18 Editorial Offi ce: Three Fast Attack Craft Launched L-1 Block, Church Road, New Delhi-110001, Telefax : 23094668 Telephone : 23092768 Email : [email protected] E-in-C: ASCON-32078 [email protected] For subscriptions contact : Business Manager, Sainik Samachar, Telephone : 23092768 Subscription Rates: Inland (Ordinary): One Year Rs 100.00, Overseas (Surface Mail): Rs 450.00 Concessional (per year): Rs 20.00 (Applicable for dependants of service personnel & ex-Servicemen.) For all correspondence subscribers must quote their subscription number For more details visit our website: http://sainiksamachar.nic.in OOnn ffrontront ccover:over: TThehe DDefenceefence MMinisterinister wwitnessingitnessing lliveive ddemonstrationemonstration ooff tthehe AAkashkash MMissileissile ssystemystem oonn tthehe ooccasionccasion ooff iitsts iinductionnduction iintonto IIAFAF ppic:ic: FFulchandulchand KKitadikaritadikar Indian Air Force Formally Inducts The Akash Missile istory was created at Air Force HStation Gwalior on July 10, 2015 when Defence Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar formally handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) the indigenously designed, developed and produced Akash Air Defence missile system. A befitting ceremony was held to mark this historic event which saw the presence of the top leadership of not only the Air Force but also of the Secretary Defence (R&D) Dr S Christopher, the Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) SK Sharma and the first Project Director of Akash Missile system Dr Mr SK Sharma, Chief Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Limited handing over the notional Key of Akash Missile system to Defence Minister Prahalada. It is pertinent to note that Akash is the first made-in-India Arup Raha. He then inspected the The handing over ceremony was missile system and is a hallmark of ceremonial Guard of Honour against marked by a spectacular display of a sustained and focused jointmanship the backdrop of two Sukhoi 30 MKI, drill by the operating crew of Akash between DRDO, BEL, private sector one MiG-21 and one Mirage 2000 Pioneers, the first unit in the IAF to and more importantly the IAF. aircraft. Thereafter he witnessed the induct this system. Speaking at the Earlier, on his arrival at Air live demonstration of the missile occasion, the Defence Minister lauded Force Staion Gwalior, Mr Manohar system wherein ‘live’ tracking of the efforts of the DRDO, BEL, public Parrikar was received by Chief fighter aircraft was carried out by and private industries, inspection of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal switching on the radars. agencies and the end user who all The Defence Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar reviewing a Guard of Honour at Air Force Station Gwalior on the occasion of the Induction ceremony of Akash Missile into Indian Air Force 4 Sainik Samachar July 16-31, 2015 high success rate had been achieved. He also brought out that plans were afoot in the IAF for procurement of additional Akash systems. Akash is a potent supersonic mobile multi-directional, multi-target point/ area Air Defence system that can simultaneously engage multiple air targets using sophisticated multi-function phased array radars. The advanced ECCM (Electronic Counter Counter Measures) features provide secure communication links with other Air Defence Command Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha presenting a Silver Salver to Defence Minister and Control networks to handle the worked together to resolve a number of challenges that arose during the production of the Akash Missile system. He added that the benefits of the Make in India programme such as employment generation, financial growth, self sufficiency and better defence preparedness were there for all to see. Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, who formally received the ‘key’ of the Akash system from Mr Parrikar said that a total of 27 missiles had been fired after inking of the contract, to ascertain the serviceability of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha presenting a Silver Salver to Secretary system in various conditions and a Defence (Research & Development) Dr S Christopher counter electronic warfare scenario. Indigenous development of Akash system has given impetus to the defence industrial base of the country and generated business of more than Rs. 20,000 crore. Akash is the outcome of successful partnership between DRDL, the nodal lab in DRDO, along with 13 other DRDO labs, 19 Public Sector Units (PSUs), 5 Ordinance Factories (OFs), 3 National Laboratories, 6 academic institutions and more than 265 private industries across the country. Mr SK Sharma, Chief Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Limited presenting a replica of - Wg Cdr SS Birdi Akash Missile to Chief of the Air Staff,Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha pix: Fulchand Kitadikar July 16-31, 2015 Sainik Samachar 5 NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS OF CANTONMENT BOARDS Defence Minister Inaugurates Orientation Programme efence Minister Mr Manohar DParrikar inaugurated the Orientation Programme for the newly elected Cantonment Board Members of 25 Cantonment Boards under the jurisdiction of Central Command at Banking Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Lucknow on July 9, 2015. The inaugural program started with welcome song sung by girl students of Lucknow Cantonment Board School, Lucknow followed by lighting of Lamp. Director General Defence Estates gave the introductory address followed by Defence Minister’s address to the gathering. The Defence Minister emphasised that he is well aware of the problems faced by the people living in the cantonment area and would do his best to resolve the problems in near future. This is an initiative taken by the Director General, Defence Estates with the approval of Defence Minister. Presidents of Cantonment Boards, Chief Executive Officers and Defence Estates Officers under the jurisdiction of Central Command also participated in the programme. The Orientation Programme which brought together 163 elected members of 24 Cantonment Boards, 114 of them being first-timers, alongwith their Presidents and CEOs presented a special opportunity to all stake-holders of Cantonment Board administration to deliberate on a variety of subjects at one Forum. Such a programme is being held for the first time. It is hoped that this two-day programme will further enlighten the elected representatives on the key issues pertaining to the Cantonment Board administration. The programme will give an opportunity to the newly elected Members of the Cantonment Boards to get an overview of the Statutes, 6 Sainik Samachar July 16-31, 2015 Rules and Regulations which they Government schemes of social the Member-Secretary of the Board have to deal with in their day-to-day welfare, public health, hygiene, responsible for implementation of functions as Members of the Board. Mr safety, water-supply, sanitation, the decisions of the Board. The Ravi Kant Chopra, Director General, urban renewal and education. Officers of Defence Forces who are Defence Estates, Delhi and Lt Gen The Boards have to perform both associated with the administration GS Shergill, Officiating GOC-in-C, municipal and developmental of Cantonment Boards either as HQ Central Command, Principal activities. The Boards have also the Presidents of Cantonment Boards Directors of all the Directorates, power to impose various taxes, fees or as Nominated